Former big-leaguer Larry Parrish was announced as the new West Michigan Whitecaps manager this morning. He played 15 seasons in the major leagues, mostly with the Montreal Expos and the Texas Rangers, but also a short stint with the Boston Red Sox to close out his playing career in America before spending two seasons in Japan.

Parrish has 12 seasons of managerial experience, including part of 1998 and all of 1999 with the Detroit Tigers, and seven seasons at the helm of the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. The Sporting News named him its Minor League Manager of the Year in 2005 after he led the Mud Hens to the first of back-to-back International League titles.

Parrish replaces Ernie Young, who compiled a 142-137 record as Whitecaps manager the past two seasons. Hitting coach Scott Dwyer will return to the Whitecaps. Pitching coach Mark Johnson has been assigned to Detroit’s Class-A Short Season team for 2013; a replacement has not been named.